Switching Formula

[Travelin Mama]

Do you always stick to the same kind of formula, or do you switch? If you switch, why?

We just switched from Enfamil Lipil to Simlac Advanced Isomil because the doctor thought he may have a lactose problem. He took the switch really well so now I'm considering buying whichever soy is cheaper (Enfamil or Simlac) once we determine that the lactose was in fact the problem.

[MaryB23]

With Andrew we didn't switch formulas more than once. We used Similac with Iron after we had run out of the Similac Advance samples we had (after about 2 weeks).

With Eric, we started out with Similac with Iron again and decided to try the WalMart/Target brands (made by Wyeth). He actually did a little better on those - he started pooping more regularly, but it may have also been that his little body was finally working out the kinks. Our ped said the Wyeth formulas are nutritionally the same as Similac and Enfamil. They are much cheaper and they also don't bubble as much when you shake them up (we use the powder).

When we did switch from Similac to the Wyeth brand, we did bottles that were half and half for about 3 or 4 days so it wasn't such a shock. I think switching a lot can be pretty hard on their little systems so I probably wouldn't switch back and forth a whole lot, but maybe your little guy would do OK.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do! :)

[CNYMom]

We tried to switch Madelyn soon after we brought her home - because of cost- from Similac to a store brand -actually 2 different store -same manufacturer (we didn't realise this then) and she wouldn't budge on either one, so we went back to Similac with Iron. Similac was cheaper than store brands with coupons so that helped!

[Blue Eyes]

With Dakota we had him on Similac until he was 10 months old and then switched him to Parent's Choice. He did fine.

With JJ we started her off on Similac samples from the hospital which lasted a week and then switched her to Parent's Choice. This time I tried the liquid formula and love it and I also think it holds her over longer b/c it's thicker than the powder.

[AmyA]

My poor little man was on so many formulas before we found something that worked. We started out on Enfamil and he began throwing it up as soon as he would burp (he dumped the entire bottle), so we tried/switched to Similac Soy and Good Start Soy and he started having green diarrhea. Then he was put on Nutramigen, which seemed to work fine. Then, his acid reflux kicked in so we had to switch him to Enfamil AR, which is a thickened formula. He became very very fussy on this forumla, so we switched him back to Nurtamigen and thickened it with rice cereal, but he started having dirrhea with that too. So, we switched to Alimentum and thicken it with cereal and he's doing great on it. He's been on it for probably 1 1/2 months. Alimentum, Progestimil, and Nutramigen are hypoallerginic formulas and the protein has already been broken down so it's easier on their little bodies. It's a little more expensive, but oh so worth it. You might want to try one of those if the soy doesn't work. Also, Carnation Good Start is a great Soy and it's SO much less expensive than the others.

Just keep trying until you find what works.

:)